Sen. Norm Coleman Passes on Klobuchar Challenge

While former Sen. Norm Coleman has said publicly that he may return to public service, today he ruled out challenging Democratic Sen. Amy Klobuchar in 2012.

“I’m not going to run against Amy Klobuchar,” Coleman, R-Minn., said on ABC’s “Top Line” today. “I’ve said in other forums that I haven’t ruled out public service -- my heart’s in public service. At some point, but not in 2012. I love what I do now, and that is developing center-right policy.”

Coleman lost in 2008 – after an extended recount in a razor-tight race – to Sen. Al Franken, D-Minn. Klobuchar, D-Minn., is among a large field of Democrats up for reelection next year whom Republicans hope to oust.

Coleman is now CEO of the American Action Network, which is focusing on fostering conservative ideas and helping centrist Republicans with policy and politics.

“I think 2012 is going to be a good year for our team. I think America is a center-right nation. We saw a reflection of that in this election – we’ll see it again in 2012,” Coleman added.

“But I’m not going to run against Amy Klobuchar. I’ll leave that task to others.”